Post your best long range shooting tip(s) here!

[blue_ridge]

I like the heavy pills too, although 12" is borderline so YMMV. 185 Scenars work great for me.

 

[LEVRLOVR]

It's all about concentrating on the smallest spot of the bull possible and a very s...l...o...w deliberate trigger squeeze.

That rifle should surprise you when it goes off.

 

[lopezni]

Start by closing both eyes, then open your eye that is used to look into the scope. Is your crosshair still at the same place it was before? If not move your body, not the rifle, until you get on target and your point of aim does not change when you close your eyes.

 

[Howard Roark]

My tip is to buy this book: http://www.rifleshootingbynancy.com/
Prone and Long Range Rifle Shooting

It is the best book on NRA LR shooting ever written. Nancy has won the National Long Range Championships 4 times, and is the only woman ever to win the National Highpower Championships. She has also won the Wimbledon Cup, and is a 5-time Leech Cup winner. She and her daughters are nice too.

 

[Ankeny]

I hang around with quite a few long range shooters. The good ones all have the same thing in common, they know their dope. As far as 1 moa, with the typical varmint weight or "tactical" rifle, keeping the shots on a 2 moa target under variable field conditions is a more realistic goal.

 

[Sgt.45]

Quick question. Before any pointers... how far have you shot that M4gery? In my opinion long range shooting (different for everybody as some think 100 yards is long range) is like learning to drive a car. You learn to drive a stick and automatic just seems easy. If you get the fundementals (bone support, muscular relaxation, breath control, natural point of aim, etc,) down with iron sights, shooting with a scope seems like cheating.

 

[Ridgerunner665]

About that 1 in 12" twist...

Just like Don said, it will stabilize heavy bullets...internet experts get all wrapped around the axle on faster twists.

In truth...you want to use the slowest possible twist that will stabilize the bullet you are shooting.

Why??? Because most bullets are not perfectly balanced...they faster they spin, the more the heavy side pulls it of course.

Go to the Berger Bullets website and check out their recommended twist rates...you will be surprised.

Velocity matters too...when using the slowest possible twist, you'll need all the barrel length you can stand (*Palma*)...but 24 inches is plenty.

Not many people do...but I prefer 168 grain bullets in the 308, but NOT Sierra MatchKings or any other clone of that bullet.

 

[TargetTerror]

Your are only as good as your shooting rig, and your shooting rig is only as good as you.

 

[PT1911]

stupid question I know.. but my biggest hurdle always seems to be my damn heartbeat... I work with my breathing, positioning, bla bla bla... but always end up being duped out of a few tenths of an inch by my hearbeat... GAH!!!!!
I know... timing... but the moment my finger begins the SQUEEZE, the heartbeat increases... I guess I just find shooting too thrilling.

 

[blitzen]

call your shot every time you pull the trigger.

 

[Bobarino]

i've fired the M4 clone (bushy M4 HBAR with flip down sights and an EOTech 512) with and without irons up to 300M (but more easily with the EOTech). i can hit a man sized/silhouette target within the 5 ring all day long with cheapy ADCOM M855. i'm a decent shot with a rifle, but have never taken it out to any sort of extreme.

the rig with definitely be better than me. i know the 1:12 will stabilize 168 grain loads well, but i've always been a fan of faster and lighter bullets. maybe it's just my shooting style or just a confidence thing but i always get better results with faster and lighter for some reason. i know they will be more affected by the wind though, so that all may change.

got my bases today, scope comes in tomorrow, and the stock on monday. needless to say, i'm anxious as all getout. i'll post pics as soon as i get everything together. range report to follow hopefully the weekend after new years.

thank a lot for all the tips people! i really do appreciate it!

Bobby

 

[blackops]

That rifle should surprise you when it goes off.

+1

One piece of kit that you really need for LR shooting is a chronograph. You need to develop dope for your load

+1

I haven't yet aquired the rifle nor skill to push to 1k, but once I pushed past 500 breathing wasn't my issue. I had trigger work done and set to 3lbs and that really helped.

 

[taliv]

That rifle should surprise you when it goes off.

uhh, no.

call your shot every time you pull the trigger.

yes

 

[Slamfire]

so what are your best tips from your experience shooting long distances

Shoot small bore prone. An unforgiving sport. You must have perfect position, trigger pull, sight alignment, every shot.

And you will learn to read mirage and wind. The slightest puff moves the bullet big time.

Unlike centerfire where recoil and blast masks your shooting errors, you don't have that in small bore.

 

[rangerruck]

equal pressure, every time, on 2 things, your cheekweld, and how hard you hold the rifle in to your shoulder. these two things can make up for a lot of bad crap you do, or just little flubs ot kinks that sometimes happen between shots.

 

[Howard Roark]

Shoot small bore prone. An unforgiving sport. You must have perfect position, trigger pull, sight alignment, every shot.

Amen. I started SB prone this year for that very reason. It will make you hold harder than woodpecker lips.

 

[coyotewillie]

A LOT of good advice here! Two things seem to have helped me. The first was reloading to find the best load for the rifle. You've got to have something the rifle likes first or the rest is wasted. The second is a lot of practice. My plant was shut down for 2-3 months a few years ago. I was shooting probably 3+ times a week. My groups really shrunk by the time I went back to work. Thank God, cause I probably couldn't afford to shoot much longer! Anyway, the more I shot, the more relaxed I got. The more relaxed I got, the smaller the groups got too. Greg